former capital after relocation; e.g., Ming Nanjing
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
former capital (after the capital has been moved)
formalHistorical term primarily used in the context of Chinese dynastic history, notably for Nanjing after the Ming Dynasty moved the capital to Beijing in 1421.
Míng明
dài代
qiān迁
dū都
Běi北
jīng京
hòu后
，
Nán南
jīng京
chéng成
wéi为
liú留
dū都
。
After the Ming Dynasty moved its capital to Beijing, Nanjing became the former capital.
Zhè这
zuò座
chéng城
shì市
céng曾
shì是
duō多
gè个
wáng王
cháo朝
de的
liú留
dū都
，
zhì至
jīn今
réng仍
bǎo保
liú留
zhe着
xǔ许
duō多
gǔ古
jiàn建
zhù筑
。
This city once served as the former capital for multiple dynasties, and still retains many ancient buildings.
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Zuò作
wéi为
liú留
dū都
，
Nán南
jīng京
zài在
Míng明
dài代
réng仍
bǎo保
liú留
le了
wán完
zhěng整
de的
zhōng中
yāng央
jī机
gòu构
。
As a former capital, Nanjing still retained a complete set of central government institutions during the Ming Dynasty.